The Importance of Chemical Cues in Aquatic Animals

Presented by: Leah McIntire

Advisor: Brian Wisenden

Outline

IntroductionChemical cues

Predator/prey interactions Migration Shoaling tendencies Agonistic encounters

Conclusion

Introduction

Chemical Cues

Predator Prey

Disturbance Damage

Mucus Cell Alarm Substance Cell

Minnow Skin

Epidermis

Scale

Photo taken by R. Jan F. Smith

Alewife

American Shad

Shortnose Sturgeon

Blueback Herring

Gizzard Shad

Atlantic Salmon

American Eel

Sea Lamprey

Striped bass http://www.fws.gov/R5CRc/Salmon/workbook/

fish_facts_answers.gif

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hazy_jenius/2370892732/

Shoal of Red Sea Fusillier

http://caspar.bgsu.edu/~Huberlab/private/Images/Meralspread2.jpg

Example of agonistic behavior in lobsters

Chemical cues Predator/prey interactions Migration Shoaling tendencies Agonistic encounters

Chemosensory assessment of predation risk by slimy sculpins (Cottus cognatus):

responses to alarm, disturbance, and predator cues

Pamela J. Bryer, Reehan S. Mirza, and

Douglas P. Chivers

Journal of Chemical Ecology (2001) Vol. 27, No. 3

Methods and MaterialsSlimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus)

http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/biology/Fish_key/Cottidae/sculpin_air_Gray.jpg

http://www.uaex.edu/cengle/CaneyBayou/images/backpa1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3318280707_92c519c19c.jpg

Brook trout

http://www.cttrout.org/Images/Burton_Brook-CT_Brookie.jpg

Gravitational flow-through test apparatus

Stimulus added

Testing chamber

Experiment 1:Responses of Sculpins to Alarm, Disturbance, and Predator Cues

Chemical cues from…

1) Predatory brook trout

2) Injured sculpins

3) Disturbed sculpins (chased)

4) Injured swordtails

5) Undisturbed sculpins

6) Model fish predator

*all tests x 20

http://www.heathland.net/Tropical/Livebearers/Swordtail.jpg

Results

Results

Distilled Sculpin Pellet Brine Brine shrimp + water shrimp injured sculpin

A

rea

Use

Num

ber

of S

hort

Mov

es

S

helte

r U

se

Discussion

Sculpins respond to… predator chemicals damage-released alarm cues cues of disturbed conspecifics

Chemical cues Predator/prey interactions Migration Shoaling tendencies Agonistic encounters

Laboratory assessment of the role of a larval pheromone and natural stream odor

in spawning stream localization by migratory sea lamprey (Petromyzon

marinus)

Lance A. Vrieze and Peter W. Sorensen

CJFAS (2001) Vol. 58 Pg. 2374-2385

Methods and MaterialsSea Lamprey

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/sea-lamprey-Petromyzon-mari.jpg

Experiment 1a: determining whether and how migratory lamprey are attracted to the odor of

natural stream waters

Cheboygan River Water

Lake Huron Water

2 treatments:•Nasopores blocked•Nasopores not blocked

Results

Nasopores blockedNasopores clear

Experiment 2a: Are waters from streams with larval populations naturally more attractive than

those lacking larvae?

Larvae Containing River Water

Nonlarvae Containing River Water

Results

Experiment 2d: Is the pheromone complimented by other odorous cues in stream water?

Nagel Creek Water / Lake Huron

Larvae Induced Water

Results

Discussion

Sea lamprey use chemical cues to detect rivers bile acids from larvae natural river odors

Chemical cues Predator/prey interactions Migration Shoaling tendencies Agonistic encounters

Habitat-specific chemical cue influence association preferences and shoal

cohesion in fishM.M. Webster,

J. Goldsmith,

A. J. W. Ward, and P. J. B. Hart

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2007) 62:273-280

Methods and Materials

Threespine stickleback

http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Gasterosteidae/threespine_stickleback.jpg

Part 1: How long do association preferences based upon habitat chemical cues take to break

down and build up?

Results

Time (minutes) exposure to different habitat

0 30 120 240

Pro

port

ion

of T

ime

Sho

alin

g

0.6

0.3

0

-0.3

-0.6

Part 2: Do habitat specific chemical cues influence shoal cohesion?

Results

Mixed All Freshwater All Blackwater All Saline Water

Habitat origin of individuals within shoal

Nea

rest

nei

ghbo

ur in

bod

y le

ngth

s

1.5

0.5

0

1

Discussion

Experiment 1 4 hours for habitat cues to wear off allows fish to switch

Experiment 2 same habitats shoals more cohesive increases forging efficiency communicate better

Chemical cues Predator/prey interactions Migration Shoaling tendencies Agonistic encounters

Individual and status recognition in the crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: the effects

of urine release on fight dynamics

Rebecca A. Zulandt Schneider, Robert Huber,

and Paul A. Moore

Behavior (2001) 138: 137-153

Methods and MaterialsCrayfish

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Wildlife_Species_Con/nccrayfishes/o_rusticus/mainphoto.jpg

Experiment 2: Urine Release

Two groupsUrine presentUrine blocked

Duration of fightMaximum Intensity

(0) no fighting(1) threat postures(2) claw lock(3) strike and rip

Discussion

First fights, longer duration, equal intensity Winner and loser effects Status recognition

Fights without urine, longer, more intense urine provides critical cue to end an encounter

Conclusion

http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/5/jumping-

sockeye-salmon_6397.jpg

References

Bryer, P. J., Mirza, R. S., and Chivers, D. P. (2001). Chemosensory assessment of predation risk by slimy sculpins (Cottus cognatus): responses to alarm, disturbance, and predator cues. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 27(3).

Vrieze, L. A. and Sorensen, P. W. (2001). Laboratory assessment of the role of larval pheromone and natural stream odor in spawning stream localization by migratory sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Can J Fish Aquat Sci, 58, 2374-2385 

Webster, M. M., Goldsmith, J., Ward, A. J. W., and Hart, P. J. B. (2007). Habitat-specific chemical cues influence association preferences and shoal cohesion in fish. Behav Ecol Sociobio, 62, 273-280.

Zulant Schneider, R. A., Huber, R., and Moore, P. A. (2001). Individual and status recognition in the crayfish, Oronectes rusticus: the effects of urine release on fight dynamics. Behavior, 138, 137-153

More References

Petranka, J. W., Kats, L. B., and Sih, A. (1987). Predator-prey interactions among fish and larval amphibians: use of chemical cues to detect predatory fish. Anim Behav, 35:420-425.

Huber, M. E. and Delago, A. (1998). Serotonin alters decisions to withdraw in fighting crayfish, Astacus astucus: the motivational concept revisited. J Comp Phys A, 182: 573-583.